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At 192cm, Stringer is a big-bodied forward who takes contested marks and can push up through the midfield. Stringer has a fierce appetite for the contest, rarely gets beaten and showed he can tackle and defend as a forward. Stringer joined the Bulldogs through the 2012 AFL Draft, selected in the first round at pick five.

A breakout seaon ensued for String in 2015, capped by his maiden selection in the All Australian team.

Stringer was a member of the Club's 2016 AFL Premiership team, and again was its leading goal kicker.

Season

Season by Season

Season in short

A premiership player and the Club’s leading goal kicker. It’s the kind of season most players would love to have, although by his own lofty standards Jake Stringer had an up and down 2016.

The 22-year-old started the year in fine form, kicking five goals in the his side’s 65-point win over Fremantle in round one, but by round 22 found himself playing for Footscray in the VFL.

Statistically, Stringer was only marginally down on his 2015 All-Australian season, but remained his side’s number one target up forward, and his 42 goals ranked him 18th in the League.

His game-winning heroics against Richmond in round 16 was a snapshot of Stringer’s season. Well-held for the majority of the game, Stringer broke the shackles late to kick the final two goals of the match and secure the Dogs a ten-point victory.

The stat that mattered

Stringer led the Club in Scoreboard Impact points according to Champion Data.

What they said

“They were a tough few weeks obviously going back to the VFL, because it’s never something you really want to do,” told the Herald Sun.

“Of course, you want to be playing AFL. But the boys really rallied around me and I was lucky enough to work my way back in for the first final.

“I just had to be aggressive and just make sure my work rate was up and about because working hard is what I base my whole game around.”

Season in short:

Such was the display in 2015, one quarter of football from Jake Stringer would be enough to fill a highlights reel.

At only 21, Stringer cemented himself as one of the most promising young players in the competition.

At 192cm, the forward caused headaches for opposition defenders with his power, strength, pace and craft.

His performance earned him an All-Australian selection in the forward pocket and a place in the AFLPA’s best 22 under 22 side.

Stringer played every game except one this season, averaging 14 disposals and three marks.

His 56 goals took him to fifth on the Coleman Medal tally, averaging over two per game.

Stat that mattered:

Stringer finished 19th in the league for goal assists, highlighting not only his skill around goal, but his ability to bring teammates into the game.

What they said:

“It’s been a good season for the Club. We’ve really grown as a group and we’ve taken our game to a new level. I’ve had a lot of help from the forward line and the midfielders as well in teaching me different roles. We’re starting to build a really strong group in the forward line but also in the midfield as well.” – Jake Stringer, September 2015

“He’s an extreme talent, we know that. He was probably a little bit inconsistent in the first half of the year but second half we were really happy with the way he went about it. Not only the things that the outside world see, because we know he can kick goals, but he became a really important team player for us. He shared the load with his fellow forwards which obviously helped them out but was still able to have an impact on the scoreboard. The sky’s the limit for Jake, he’s a bit of an untapped talent and if he continues to work extremely hard and get that aerobic base which he knows he needs to work on, he’s only going to improve as seasons go on.” – Daniel Giansiracusa (Western Bulldogs Assistant Coach), September 2015

Season in short:

2014 was a breakout year for Stringer who cemented himself as one of the league’s most exciting young forwards.

After a solid start to the season, Stringer found himself back in the VFL mid-year. Elevated back to the senior side in round 15, Stringer made the most of his chance and did not miss a match for the remainder of the year.

Stringer helped shape a formidable Dogs forward line alongside Stewart Crameri, with impressive bags including a season-high five goals against Essendon in round 18, and three four-goal hauls throughout the year.

The 20-year-old was rewarded for his impressive season with an NAB AFL Rising Star nomination in round 20, after kicking a match-winning four goals.

The stat that mattered:

Stringer kicked 26 goals in 2014, the second-most of any Bulldog.

What they said:

“It’s nice to get some recognition over the last couple of weeks.

“It’s always nice to get individual accolades but it’s mainly more about the team and getting a win every weekend.” – Jake Stringer following his NAB AFL Rising Star nomination in August 2014.

“I think he’s a bit of a freak, really. He kicked one of his goals as a check-side kick and I said to him ‘Geez, mate, you could have passed that off’.

“But he’s too talented for that so he went it himself and shrugged off four blokes and kicked the goal. That’s what he’s capable of. I love playing with him because he’s so hard at the ball and his damaging.” – Teammate Stewart Crameri on Jake Stringer.

Season in short:

Number five draft pick Jake Stringer shouldered high expectations well in his debut season at the Kennel. While a sprained ankle delayed his start and a foot injury ended his year prematurely, the boy from Bendigo still managed 10 games. The 19-year-old immediately impressed with his strength, power and goal sense. A highlight of the season saw him gather 16 disposals, five inside 50 marks and snare two goals against Collingwood in round 12, in a sign of things to come.

Stat that mattered:

Hints of Stringer’s determination and ferocity around the contest point towards a very special player in the making but his debut season has already proven he backs himself in front of goals. Kicking 12 goals from 10 games in the AFL as well as seven behinds and eight score assists, the 19-year-old will be a valuable asset in the forward half. There was not a single game where the first round draftee did not impact the scoreboard in some capacity – while he kicked multiple goals off his own boot on four occasions.

What they said:

"[Stringer's] going to get some bruises along the way, because he plays the game in a very physical way, but he's an exciting young talent.He's very level and balanced, and I don't think the game's going to stress him too much – he can handle the mental side of it.So he's got an exciting future."

- Senior Coach Brendan McCartney, before round one

Season by Season

A leg fracture limited his game time in 2011 but a solid showing for Bendigo Pioneers and Bendigo Gold this season indicated he is still capable of producing his best football. His nine goal haul in the opening round of TAC Cup was a highlight. Stringer was selected by the Western Bulldogs with their first pick (No. 5 overall) in the 2012 AFL Draft.